Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Title

The Forgetfulness of Sin

Outline

In my daily Bible-in-a year readings, I am reading about Moses’ confrontation with Pharoah

Pharoah saw great works of God; he was also delivered from the effects of his foolishness time and time again

But when the terror of God was absent, he seemed to forget, seemed to try to compromise with God, seemed to want to assert his authority and godship.

The results, as you well know, were disastrous

But Israel would do the same even before they were across the Red Sea

Jesus’ disciples faced the same problem in themselves

They had a problem with 5000 to feed, people who might blame them for their hunger in the deserted area, and Jesus had quietly solved it with, well, almost nothing but his word.

Now they headed across the sea without any preparations - they were going home and were eager to get there. Jesus, tired from a day’s teaching, falls soundly asleep. He trusts his Father, so even the storm could not wake him. But a storm there was and the disciples are terrified when the boats (there had to be more than one) begin to swamp. I would not be surprised if none of them could swim. So they wake Jesus: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Is there a hint of blaming here? There is certainly terror and panic. Jesus simply tells the storm to shut up and comments: “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

Surely, one thinks, they would never fear again. But they would have the same reaction before the feeding of the 4000, they would fall into terror more times, and finally they would all run in panic in Gethsemane.

We have already seen that reaction in David

The Lord had appointed him out of nowhere, had delivered him countless times both before and after he became king, had even let him have the sign of his presence in his own city. Then, one day when he is older and his soldiers did not want him in battle, he sees chances to see the chaste wife of one of his officers purifying herself after her period, forgets about God, what he owes God, and God’s law, takes he for a one night stand (despite plenty of wives), and, when she becomes pregnant covers it up, in the end by murdering her husband.

Nathan shows up and says, “Have you forgotten all God has done in a moment of passion?” Perhaps he was a bit down because his waning strength kept him in the city rather the in the final battle. Perhaps the devil whispered, “This will show that you are still a man.” Anyway, he had forgotten the past, had fallen big time and had broken faith with a trusted soldier, had even made sure he was dead.

“I have sinned,” responds David. “I remember now.” Nathan accepts the confession, but informs him that there will be consequences: his total sexual shaming by “a neighbor,” the death of the child, and more. His penance could not remove some of the effects of his forgetfulness and failure.

Sisters, this is a warning to all of us

Some of us are old and can look back on a long history of God’s deliverance in our lives, even signs and wonders, at least from our perspective.

We have seen God rescue us from ourselves more than once.

Some of you are younger, so perhaps have fewer - I do not say lesser, for I do not know your stories - things God has rescued you from.

We all owe a lot to God, to Jesus, and to his agents.

May we never forget. May we never take our situations for granted. May we ever keep on recounting what God has done for us. For otherwise, we may forget and in that moment Satan may slip in a temptation that ruins the ends of our lives. Momento morti, yes, but also momento Christi, and so be as safe as Jesus on that cushion in the stern of the boat.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 1-29-2022: Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 12:1–7a, 10–17

1 The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, he said: “Tell me how you judge this case: In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor. 2 The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers. 3 But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. Of what little he had she ate; from his own cup she drank; in his bosom she slept; she was like a daughter to him. 4 Now, a visitor came to the rich man, but he spared his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him: he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the one who had come to him.” 5 David grew very angry with that man and said to Nathan: “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves death! 6 He shall make fourfold restitution for the lamb because he has done this and was unsparing.” 7 Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man!

“Thus says the LORD God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel. I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

10 Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 11 Thus says the LORD: I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives before your very eyes, and will give them to your neighbor: he shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You have acted in secret, but I will do this in the presence of all Israel, in the presence of the sun itself.”

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David: “For his part, the LORD has removed your sin. You shall not die, 14 but since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you will surely die.” 15 Then Nathan returned to his house.

The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. 16 David pleaded with God on behalf of the child. He kept a total fast, and spent the night lying on the ground clothed in sackcloth. 17 The elders of his house stood beside him to get him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.

Catholic Daily Readings 1-29-2022: Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 51:12a

12 A clean heart create for me, God;

renew within me a steadfast spirit.

PSALM

Psalm 51:12–17

12 A clean heart create for me, God;

renew within me a steadfast spirit.

13 Do not drive me from before your face,

nor take from me your holy spirit.

14 Restore to me the gladness of your salvation;

uphold me with a willing spirit.

15 I will teach the wicked your ways,

that sinners may return to you.

16 Rescue me from violent bloodshed, God, my saving God,

and my tongue will sing joyfully of your justice.

17 Lord, you will open my lips;

and my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Catholic Daily Readings 1-29-2022: Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

GOSPEL

Mark 4:35–41

35 On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41  They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 1-29-2022: Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading 2 Samuel 12:1–7a, 10–17

Response Psalm 51:12a

Psalm Psalm 51:12–17

Gospel Acclamation John 3:16

Gospel Mark 4:35–41

GREEN